Face and eye shield



Feb. 29, 1944. 'N. R. STERN u. 2,342,982

FACE AND EYE SHIELD Filed Dec. 28, 1942 INVENTORS R- STERN Patented Feb. 29, 1944 FACE AND EYE SHIELD Nathan R. Stern and Michael P. Newberger, Cleveland, Ohio Application December 28, 1942, Serial No. 470,372 Claims. (01. 2-9) Thisv invention relates to new and useful improvements in shields and more particularly to combined face andv eye shields, the primary object of the invention being to provide a device of the character described for protection against the many hazards to the eyes and face of workers in industrial plants.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a combined face and eye shield which will permit ventilation and free vision,

even to those wearing prescription glasses.

A still further object resides in providing a device of the character mentioned which will give whole face protection, without forming any binding or tightness on the head of the wearer and which is provided with improved means for lifting and adjusting the same.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device of the character of non-inflammable material having maximum transparency with no side glare and which is adjustable to various head sizes.

Still another object resides in providing a device of the character mentioned with an improved means for manually lifting the same when desired.

A still further object resides in providing a device which is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will. be very efiicient in use.

With these and numerous other objects in view, our invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application;

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing our improved face and eye shield applied to use,

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same removed,

Figure 3 is a vertical section applied,

Figure 4 is a horizontal section through the device as seen on the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a plan view of the device in spread position adapted to be applied,

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view as seen on the line 66 of Figure 2, and

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the straps, with parts in perspective.

In describing the invention, we shall refer to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts of the several therethrough as views, and in which the numeral I designates a sheet of flexible, transparent material, of a size sufficiently large to cover the. face of the wearer, including the forehead, the same being substantially square, although the exact size is more or" less immaterial. Adjacent the side edges, near the top edge of this sheet I there are provided series of small openings in which are inserted the eyelets 2 which may be of metal, plastic or any other desired material.

A head strap 3 is provided, formed of leather, imitation leather or the like and of reasonable width, the same being formed in two sections secured together in the rear by a, loop 4 formed of elastic or any other desired material. The outer end portions of the strap '3 are folded longitudinally and laced through the aligning eyelets 2 adjacent the top side edges of the shield or sheet I. The free ends of the straps 3 are spread as shown at 5 which together with the fractional engagement of the folded portions of the strap laced through the eyelets, will adjust-- ably retain the said straps to the sheet. This head strap 3 enables the device to be applied to the head of the wearer to fit snugly thereabout.

A forehead strap 6 is provided, the rear face of which has secured thereto the padded sweat band or the like i. This strap 5 adjacent its ends is also provided with openings in which are fitted the eyelets 8 through which the folded portions of the head strap 3 extend. This forehead strap 9, being loosely applied to the head strap 3, is capable of adjustment on the latter but in view of the folding of the head strap there is certain friction in the eyelets 8 which retain said forehead strap in adjusted position on the strap 3 and when applied to the head of the user, as is seen in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the forehead strap is slightly spaced from the sheet or shield l.

The sheet I is of such size, as aforesaid, to entirely cover the forehead and the face of the wearer and maybe readily and quickly applied to the head or to heads of various sizes. Adjustment of the forehead strap will be substantially automatic when the device is applied and in the event of further adjustment which may be desirable by reason of size of head or accommodation of the wearer, this may be accomplished through the drawing up or letting out of the folded portions of the strap in the eyelets 2.

When applied, the shield will take the position, with respect to the face of the wearer, as that shown in Figures 1 and 3 and at the lowermost eyelet 2 in the shield or sheet I where the strap 3 after extending around the head projects upwardly through the other eyelets, a pivot or swinging point is provided, whereby the shield may be moved upwardly over the head, as shown in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing. This, of course, may be accomplished by movement of the hand. In order to avoid removal of the hand from work, that is lifting of the hand upwardly, we have provided a means to lift the shield, when desired, with the least effort.

To this end, we provide the pull strap 9 which I is connected to the upper central portion of the shield l and is adapted to extend rearwardly over the head of the wearer, through the loop formed by the loop portions 4 and downwardly over the shoulder of the wearer to a convenient point adjacent the waist. The connection between the pull strap and the shield I may be through the medium of any desired means but for simplicity we prefer to form an opening in the shield centrally about which is provided the eyelet ID and the strap 9 is folded and extended through this eyelet and then engaged with a buckle or the like 1, the free end of the strap being returned through the eyelet, as clearly shown in Figure 6 of the drawing. Thus, when it is desired to lift or raise the face and eye shield, for any purpose whatsoever, the wearer need only draw on the strap 9, the free end of which may be adjacent his waist line and the shield will be raised as shown in Figures 1 and 3 0f the drawing.

Many thousands of persons are now working in industrial plants aiding the war effort and many of these are new to the industries. It is a known fact that major causes of eye and face injuries and infections are flying particles of metal, glass, wood, hot sparks, etc. When working in laboratories, chemicals or other liquids or solids frequently cause injuries to the face and eyes. Workers have been urged to wear something to protect the face and eyes when working in plants and laboratories and it has been found that a device of the character hereinabove described will meet all requirements. The same permits ventilation and clear vision, whether the wearer uses glasses or not; the same is free from binding and tightness and is capable of being adjusted to heads of various sizes and lifted easily when desired. The shield proper is as clear as glass, being made of non-inflammable acetate plastic, which is unbreakable, transparent, light in Weight, durable and will provide o side glare. It may be readily cleaned with a damp cloth and folded into compact space.

From the foregoing description of the construction of our improved device, the method of assembling and applying the same to use will be readily understood and it will be seen that we have provided a comparatively simple, inexpensive and efficient means for carrying out the various objects of the invention.

While we have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is apparent that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a face and eye shield, a sheet of plastic transparent material, a head strap having opposed end portions lengthwise adjustably connected to the upper side edges of said sheet, and a forehead strap frictionally supported on said head strap rearwardly of said sheet for adjustment toward and from same.

2. In a face and eye shield, a sheet of plastic transparent material, a head strap adjustably and removably secured at its ends to the upper side edges of said sheet, a forehead strap slidable frictionally on said head strap rearwardly of said sheet, and a flexible member connected with the upper central portion of said sheet and guided through said head strap to extend over the shoulder of the wearer, whereby said sheet may be tilted when applied by drawing on said flexible member.

3. In a face and eye shield, a sheet of plastic transparent material, a series of openings formed along the upper side edges thereof, a head strap having the end portions laced through the openings of said sheet to be frictionally and adjustably secured thereto, and a forehead strap frictionally and adjustably engaged with said head strap rearwardly of said sheet.

4. In a face and eye shield, a sheet of plastic transparent material, said sheet being provided adjacent its upper side edges with a plurality of vertically aligned openings, a head strap having the end portions thereof folded longitudinally and laced through the openings of said sheet to be frictionally and adjustably secured to the latter and a forehead strap having openings adjacent the ends thereof through which the folded end portions of said head strap extends, whereby said forehead strap maybe frictionally and adjustably carried on said head strap.

5. In a face and eye shield, a sheet of plastic transparent material, the upper portions of said sheet, adjacent the side edges thereof being provided with a plurality of vertically aligned openings, a head strap having the end portions thereof laced through the openings of said sheet to frictionally and adjustably secure the straps thereto, a forehead strap, frictionally and adjustably applied to the head strap rearwardly of said sheet and a pull strap removably engaged with the upper central portion of said sheet and guided through said head strap, for manually tilting said sheet with respect to the face of the wearer when applied.

NATHAN R. STERN. MICHAEL P. NEl/VBERGER. 

